Part Four
The hooves of the fair white horse tore at the ground as he galloped as fast as his legs would carry him. A band of angry Uruk-Hai followed, but none could match the speed and skill of the fair steed, even mounted on their own fell rides. Legolas had one hand wrapped protectively around Pippin who sat in front of him and the other hooked into the flowing mane of Shadowfax, the last of the Meras. He had been a gift of King Eomer after the previous owner had failed in battle. Legolas never forgot who was the rightful owner, and always treated him as a borrowed steed. He has returned to us once, he thought, he may do so again…and he will be wanting his horse.
The Fellowship of three reached Helm's Deep two days later. Everyone expected the fortress to be assaulted soon, and so immediately preparations were made for the battle. That same evening their fears were confirmed as the Crebain began to circle the keep, spying the weaknesses of the fortress.
As night fell the tension rose. The women and children had been led to the relative safety of the Glittering Caves beneath the stone stronghold. Aragorn and Legolas had both ordered Pippin to join them and would hear no argument from him. Eowyn vowed to keep him safe and disappeared with the hobbit underground.
They knew from the beginning that it was a hopeless battle, but still they fought. Legolas and Aragorn stayed together throughout the battle as much as they could, and when the early morning light crested the hill to the east, there was Gandalf, just as he said he would be, for 'a wizard is never late, nor is he early'.
Gandalf brought with him the Rohirrim, the army of Rohan that had been banished while Theoden's mind had been corrupted. The battle ended swiftly once these warriors arrived. After a brief rest at Edoras, Aragorn was able to convince Theoden that the real battle now lay in Minas Tirith, and that they should ride to their aid.
The great host of the Rohirrim as well as the remaining four companions, rode then to their meeting in the Eastfold, near the great mountains that divided Rohan and Gondor. There they were met by Elrond, who bore the sword of Elendil and a message that he must pass through the mountain, if he wished to arrive in time to save Gondor.
Gandalf, Legolas and Pippin, unwilling to let Aragorn face this challenge alone, went with him. After a long and terrifying journey they emerged on the other side and won the allegiance of the dead soldiers at the stone of Erech. But the real battle would be on the field of the Pellanor.
The four companions and their ghostly army arrived while the battle still raged, aided by the ships they had taken from Corsiars. Together they tore through the massive ranks of Orcs, Aragorn and Legolas each on their horses and Gandalf and Pippin upon Shadowfax. They rode hard to the city, letting the dead cut a path for them through the endless enemies, but they did not anticipate the arrival of the Nazgul.
The companions could only watch as one of their fell beasts swooped down on them, plucking Gandalf from Shadowfax, leaving a bewildered Pippin struggling to hold on. The beast flew higher and higher, but mere seconds later it fell. It dropped from the sky like a stone, killing a vast number of Orcs as its body crushed them under it's unfathomable weight. Aragorn and Legolas halted, and the elf called to Shadowfax to do the same.
Gandalf stood, shaking off the massive claw that had encircled him and waiting for his adversary to rise. The black shape of the Nazgul did indeed rise from the body of it's steed, and they all saw clearly that he bore the helm of the Witchking of Angmar, the leader of the Nine. He screeched at the wizard and attacked him, first using weapons, magic, and then when these failed, resorting to mere brute strength.
Just as Legolas noticed the staff still in the wizard's free hand, there was a light. A great flooding light that filled the eyes and senses of all who were around the battling powers, for a great distance away. When the light finally faded and the companions were still blinking their dazzled eyes, they saw that what they dreaded had happened. Gandalf and the Nazgul were gone; consumed by the light that had also slain Orcs for a great ring around where they'd stood.
And then there were three.
Shadowfax continued to bear the elf and hobbit away from the Gap of Rohan, away from Isengard and the several troops of angry Uruk-Hai that pursued them. The fair horse then turned north, towards Rivendell, and would not stop until they arrived.
